Manlift



C. H. MILLER.

1 I vll EL, l

C. H. MILLER.

MANLIFT.

APPUCATION F|LED1ULY 211920. 1,382,21 1 l Patented June 21, 1921.

' v I 4 SHEETS-SHFET 2.

C. H. MILLER.

NIANLIFT.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY 21. 1920.

Patented June 21, 1921.

lllllll [III Ffa. J.

7/ WN, Im

c. nH. MILLER.

MANLIFT.

APPLLcATloN FLLED JULY 21,1920.

Patented June 21, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

o m F CHARLES H. MILLER, OF LB'ERTY TOW'NS-IIP,

JEFFERSON' COUNTY, OWA.

MANLIFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 21, 1921.

Application filed July 2l, 1920. Serial No. 397,830.

To @ZZ 107mm t may concern.'

llo it known that l, CHARLES l-l. MILLER, a citizen oi the United States, residing in Liberty township, in the county of Jefferson and State of lowa, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Manlifts, or' which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to elevators such as are actuated by the operator or passenger, and more especially to the bralres therefor; and the object oli' the same is to produce an improved manlift for dwellings, factories, grain elevators, store houses, and other places whore there is frequent call for one person to ascend or descend and it is pre terred not to use the stairs.

The primary feature of improvement consists in adapting the structure :tor the use of passengers who may be overweight, underweight, or of average weight; effectively preventing its use by children; providing always against'accident to the passenger or damage oi the structure in the event that the cable should break; and` yet supplying means by which an imprisoned passenger can easily escape.

'lhore are also secondary `features of improvoment, as will appear in the following specification and claims leterence is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is an elevation oi this manlift with the car at rest within the shaft and unoccupied, the toggle being broken upward at its center and both brakes applied. Certain parts are broken away or in section to show details, and the safety screw is in place ready for use, while its tube is shown in dotted lines as turned upward out of the way.

F 2 is a similar view of the upper part or head of the device with the toggle straightened out and the rocker moved to swing the linger over the bloelr, although thc foot brake is not yet released.

l11 3 is a plan view of the platform with several ot the iioor boards removed or broken aix/"ay, and a horizontal section through the guides in the elevator shaft, showing the parts traveling thereon.

Fig. 4, is a horizontal section on*y the line we of Fig. l, with one bail in section.

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation oi one shoe casting, showing the connection of certain parts therewith.

`morfing in one direction, or he may Fig. 6 is a detail ot the rocker and the paits-connected therewith, and the casting containing it.

Fig 7 is diag anima-tic to show in full lmes how the links ot the toggle break downward when the eable parts, and in dotted lines how the center or the toggle next drops farther downward to apply the brakes and prevent accident.

Fig. 8 is an elevation ol a modilied form toggle.

lThe elevator shaft is herein typiiied by upright planks il having maple guides G between which the car travels, although the shaft may be inclosed except :for openings at the landings. F rom a eounterhalancing weight W' a cable C leads over pulleys and through the ascent bumper rl to the top of the car; and at its bottom the latter has a platform P with landing bumper springs L. The counterbalance is by preference of a little less weight than the car plus the weight of the average passenger', and provision is made to add balancing or overbalancing` weights B to the car to alter this condition as ldesired and as circumstances demand. rlChe car is made up of the carriage (which might be eallefl the cage if inclosed), the Vhead oarryl. he bralres and linkage, and the yolles connecting the cariage and head to permit slight relative movement tor purposes which will appear. The cable is eonneetefl with the head, and the .latternthrough the yolres -supports the carriage. .A rope ll.- (prei'erably of cotton) is lined at top and bottom of the shaft and leads through the car, and the passenger propels himseli and the car upward or downward by pulling downward on a proper stretch oie this rope. He has only to overcome the diilgerence in weight between himseli'l and the car on'one hand, and the counterbalance weight on the other when apply a gentle brake when moving in the other direction; and this direction varies according as the weights B are added or removed or the passenger is heavy or light within limits. The action required on the part of a child or extremely light passenger, or on the part of an extremely heavy person, two persons, or one with some other load, will appear hereinafter.

Standing just inside the guides G and stretched tightly from top to bottom o'the Vbrakes or jawsw lined at 6 on their outer faces next the straps; and coacting with these jaws are outer brakes or slices i lined on their inner faces at 8 .next the straps@ the lining being that which is ordinarilyV used in automobile'brakes and replaceable when worn. A VEach jaw has a pair'ol' parallel wings 16 provided with slots 17. The corresponding shoe has larger and wider wings 18 passing the edges ot the strap and outside the wings 1G, where they are provided with slots 1T'. lThe shoe preferably has ypairs of ears 10, 11,A and 12 through which pass pins or bolts 13 carrying anti-ii i tion rollers 14 on the inside faces of the ears extending inwardly through openings in the wings sufliciently to avoid sliding contar-t of the wings with the edges ot the strap 1. On said pins oi' bolts outside the cars are adjustably 4supported angle iron strips forming outstanding lips 19 which are used only when the guides G. are employed.

The'oot-controlled brake mechanism includes means for drawing the shoes into gripping contact with the straps by spring pressure, and a pedal on the lplatform connected with such means whereby it may beovercome by the passenger at will. EL pin 20 connects one pair of wings 18 and passesy through the outer end oi a short locp2l oft steel. ribbon whose inner end carries a block 22. A second longer ribbon loop 23 stands in line with the lirst and carries a block 24 at its inner end7 and a bolt 25 adjustably connects the blocks. l1 pin 26 connects the other pair of wings 18... and a third ribbon loop 27 leads from this pin inward. rlhe inner end ot this loop and that ot the longer loop 23 are pivoted at 28 and 28 to a pendant brake lever 29 made up of twin members passing astride the lower 3, and the lower end of the lever is swung normally inward by a spring described below so as 'to apply the brakes.

` The automatic brake mechanism is controlled by linkage composed oit' duplicate toggles spaced so that they stand and work outside the beams'2 and 3 rand the foot brake mechanism already describer ,j although they apply the same brake shoes 7. 1t will not be necessary to describe both toggles. except where they are connected. but each link of each toggle is in two parts (in length about three to one) connected by a knuckle joint as will be seen.V Through the slots 17 and 17 extend bolts 37 on which are pivoted the outer ends of the outer parts 30, each having a depending knuckle 30 at its inner end. To this part at 32 is pivoted the inner part having a depending` knuckle 33 at its outer end adapted to contact with the knuckle 30 when these two parts aline and therefore constitute one link. The inner end of this two-part link is pivoted at to a crown 3G which constitutes the intermediate pivot of the toggle? and the latter is supported by the two arms of a fork 31 mounted at their lower ends on the pivots 32 and converging upward to a block 38 which has pivots 39 'for the forks (one on cach side) and which is carried at the end of the cable C. il' stout contractile emergency spring 34 connects the inner knuckles 33 and, when the cable C parts and the weight of the car is no longer sustained by the fork 31, this spring knuckles the parts of both toggle links on their joints 32 and instantly applies the brakes.V lllhenall parts of the toggle stand horizontal, its bolts 37 are at the outer ends orn the` slots "Y and the inner ends of the slots 1T and the toot brake may be operated at will; when the toggles are Vdeflected out of a straight line, they draw the bolts inward and apply the brakes-the pivots 28 and 23 moving in their respectiveloops to permit-and theren i-ore one brake mechanism does not interfere with the` action of the other and either or both may be operated to apply the'shoes and check the movementof'tlie car.

Yokes of substantially ,l-shape are supported at their angles by the crown 36 and `include bars 41 diverging downward therefrom on opposite sides of the lower beam. horizontal truss bars 40 connecting them in pairs near their lower ends, and upright strut bars 42 connecting the centers ot tho horizontal barsV with the anges at the top. rlhe lower ends et the respectiveyokes are connected to each other by blocks 43 underlying the beam 3, and also cari-y lateral ears 44. To the latter are pivoted upright links 45 which are pivoted at their upper ends to the inner ends ot crank arms 4G pro jecting rigidly inward from tubular shatts 47 which .l call bailsf7 and bolts 45% areV mounted inthe ends ot these hails and may be projected normally outward by springs into sockets 49 in the lower ears 1210i? the slices. This structure constitutes a hinge connection between the shoes and yokes. keeping the carriage and head in vertical alineinent and 'running Vfree on the steel straps while yet permitting a certain vert-ical movement between them, and the bails serve as overhead handles in a manner yet Y to be explained.

The car platform P is made up of an l. beam 50, right-angular brackets 51 bolted to its web and outstanding therefrom, joists 52 connecting the outer arms of 'the brackets, and a flooring` 54 overlying the joists; and from the lbeam near its ends rise uprights or pipes 53 which are connected with the blocks at the ends of the yokes above described. Each extremity of the l-beam carries a casting having outstanding lips 55 traveling againstthe sides of the guide U, with space for the steel strap, and rollers 58 pivoted at 59 on the castings run on the edges of said strap.

The hand rope R in its passage through the carriage is by preference given a compound or S-bend so that there shall always be a stretch on which the operator may draw downward to ascend or descend, as it is easier to do so, than to draw upward. To `give it this bend two pulleys are employed, and these are carried by the head rather' than by the carriage for a reason which will appear. As shown herein, an upper pulley 60 is journaled in the forked upper end of a bracket 6l mounted on the upper beam 2. The lower beam 3 carries a second bracket or casting 62 made tubular at its lower end, and in this end by a set screw 63 or otherwise is adjustably mounted a pipe or hanger 6a' having' a slot in which is journaled a lower pulley 65, preferably set in a plane at right angles to the upper pulley. The rope R passing` down is preferably led first under the lower pulley, then carried up and led over the upper pulley, and finally again down and through the platform; hence whichever way the carriage is to be moved, the operator has a stretch of rope on which he can draw downward. The pipe and lower pulley are ad- `iusted from time to time to take up slack in the rope.

From a floor plate 6G fast on the platform rise two rods 67 over one of which the lower end of the pipe 64 may be telescopically mounted, whereby this rod will steady the lower end of the pipe when the passenger is pulling' on the rope; the other rod might serve as a support for the weights B if they are rings. As shown herein a lever 69 is pivoted at G8 to the rods and forms the pedal for the foot brake near the flooring on the platform.

The lower beam 3 carries at about its center a bracket 70, and between depending' ears thereon at 71 is pivoted a finger 72 whose lower end is movable between the truss bars 40 of the yokes. Fastened rigidly between these bars at a point just out of alincment with the pivot of the hngzer is a block 7 3, and the parts are of such size and disposition that the free end of the finger may not swing over the block while the toggle is broken upward;v but when. it does, upward movement of the block and yokes is impossible, and the brakes may notI be applied by the toggle.

Between other depending ears on said bracket at 74 is pivoted the upper end of an internally threaded tube 75, a leaf spring` 76 in the bracket bearing on said upper end to hold the tube either horizontal and alex/ip,` the lower edge of the beam 3 out of the way when it is not to be used, or vertical and depending between the truss bars 40 of the yolres when it is to be used. ln the event that the manlift is overloaded and it is desired to oppose the tendency of the load to break the toggles downward, a screw 77 is inserted into the lower end of the threaded tube and run upward therein by turning its crank handle 7 75 a shoulder and washer 77 at the base of the screw thereby pu tting tension on a powerful spring 78 which sur rounds the tube 75. The upper end of this spring contacts with the upper end of aV sleeve 79 which is closed except for an opening,l sliding` upon the tube 75 and the sleeve has a flange 79 which underlies the yoke bars 4:0. rlherefore the passenger by turning the screw can apply any amount of spring tension desired or necessary to offset the overload. llVhen not in use, this einen gency screw can be withdrawn from the tube and laid aside within the carriage, or run into a hole provided Vfor it in one of the castings or brackets, as 10G, but it-should be ever within reach of an adult standing on the platform.

Pivoted to the free end of the linger 72 is one end of a channeled link 8O which leads thence over a bridge Sl within the casting- 62 and has hooksl or stops 82 82 to limit its movement thereover, and the other end of the link is pivoted to the lower end of a rocker 83 which has ribs 83 for guiding' it in its movements within the casting. The upper end of the rocker is pivotally con nected by a link f'l/-l of inverted Ushapc with the lower ends of the twin foot brake levers 29, and also by a lcontractile spring),` 85 with the finger 72.` The rocker has a rigid tongue 86 continuing` Vthe curvature of the ribs but narrower so as to leave shoulders 83 at their rear ends which are adapted to coact with stops or shoulders 62'." within the casting', and attached to said tongue is a steel tape 87 leading' thence down to a collar 88 slidably mounted on the hanger 64, while links or tapes 89 lead from said collar downward tok the pedal or stirrup. Thus pressure en the latter by a passenger will first move the lower end of the rocker and the link 8() inward and set the linger over the block, and then, when the outer stop 82 strikes` the bridge 8l, will move the upper end ofthe rocker outward (the shoulders 83 now clearing` the stops 62) and draw on the link 84, overcome the spring; 85, and release the foot brake.

Viith the above construction, let us assume that the counterweight will balance the weight of the car and a passenger weighing 125 pounds-that being the mean average between 100 and 150. 1 passenger weighing less than 100 pounds we will call under-V weight, and one over lOpounds overweight. lleights B may be provided on the landing at the main floor, or made accessible for children and under-weight adults who can be trusted to use Vthe device. Normally and at rest the manlift stands'with the parts as seen in Fig. l, the brakes beingrapplied both by the action of the spring 85 on the brake lever 29, and by the fact that the counterweight drawing upward on the toggle link pivots 32 (while their outer ends are'clamped to the straps 1 and their inner ends support the empty carriage) breaks the toggle upward at its center. Tendency to creep upward in case the building is vibrated by machinery is successfully resisted, andthe car remains at rest. A prospective passenger approaches, to go either up or down, and his operation ofthe device will depend upon whether he is of average weight, underweight, or overweight.

If within the average, conditions are normal; if'he is a little light, he may carry a load or may add one or two weights B. When he steps on the platform, the toggle straightens out as the carriage descends a little withrespect to the head, but the brakes are yet applied by the spring 85 and the car does not move. He puts his toot on the stirrup and bears downward, with the result first that the lower end of the rocker moves inward and swings the finger over the block, and next that the upper end of the rocker moves outward and the foot brake is eased off to an extent depending on the pressure he applies. '1f theipassenger is above the mean average and, with the carriage, overbalances the counterweight, he may now descend at a speed regulated byV his control or" the brake; but to ascend, he must pull on the rope R hand over hand while still holding the foot bra-ke released. 1f he is below the mean average, he may ascend in the same way or descend by using the rope. Arrived at the desired floor, he releases the stirrup and the foot brake is immediately `applied automatically and the car comes'to rest, the finger also swinging away from above the block; he steps oiin at the landing,

Aand the toggle breaks upward so that the parts resume the position shownin Fig. 1.

It the prospective passenger is underweight beyond Vpossibility of correction by adding weights B as suggested, or if the owner does not consider it wise to provide such weights, it may be assumed that such would-be passenger is a child. As such he cannot throw o the foot brake, because the finger may not be moved over the block and the lower end of the rocker toward the center to permit the shoulders 83 to pass the stops 62 until the toggle is straightened;

sure on the stirrup may relieve the carriageof sutlicient loadV to permit-V the toggle to straighten out andthe car to move; if not, Y

he may haveto use the rope. Butit he is so heavy that this expedient does not permit the car to move, he still has the choice of threemethods ofdescent, viz 1r the distance down is great, he may use the emergency screw to relieve the center oi" the toggle of its excess relative weight, suiicient to permit the brakes to slip, and control his speed by the foot brake. 0r, he may pull down hand over hand on the middle stretch of the rope R, thus sufficiently relieving the brakes to permit them to slip andv follow his pull downward. 0r, he may support part of his weight by the bails, and use the foot brake in the usual manner. AThe eXtra heavy man wishing to ascend may, of course, use the rope R hand over hand if he have the strength, and as soon as he thus relieves the platform of suiicient weight the toggle will straighten out and permit the car to ascend when the foot brake isthrown ott. But 1 might suggest thatl an ascent is usually made from the` main or ground iioor, and where the manlift is to be used by an eXtra overweight passenger (or some lighter person carrying a load, or perhaps two passengers) provision must be made accordingly. This can most readily be done by increasing the counterweight, and adding weights B tothe platform to remain there for the average and underweight person, so that the overweight passenger to ascend from the main Hoor has but to first remove a few weights B. On the return trip he descends with the sameV ease with which he made the ascent, since removal of weights B lfrom the platform put him in the average class; and, before leaving the manlif't at the main floor, he should restore the weights B removed and thus leave the device in condition for use by others as described above.

H the cable C should break or burn off or the weight W become detached, whether the lift Vis idle or loaded, moving` or at rest, the emergency spring 341- immediately knuckles the links of the toggles downward at their pivots 32 and automatically applies the brakes; the shoes cease to descend but the crown continues to do so, and the weight of so that the car comes to rest and accident is avoided. lf there be a passenger aboard, he now uses the emergency screw 77 and applies the tension of its spring gradually to ease the load ofi the center of the toggle, and then manipulates the foot brake to control his descent to safety.

in lsig. 8 is shown a modified form of the 'toggle whereof each link is made up of an outer part 230a and an inner part 33 pivotally connected at 32, and the knuckle takes the shape of a finger 3la on the outer part underlying the inner when the parts are alined. 35 are the inner pivots connecting with the crown as above, 3'4" are the bolts in the lapping slots, and a single spring 34a leads downward from the fingers. The action of this toggle is the same as that of the other.

W hat is claimed as new is:

l. ln a manlift, the combination with ya car including a head and a carriage traveling on the shaft guides; of a weight substantially counterbalancing the car and a passenger, brake mechanism in the head coacting with said guides, connections between it and the weight for applying the brakes when the carriage has no passenger, and connections between said mechanism and the carriage whereby the weight of the passenger releases the brakes.

2. Claim 1 plus: passenger actuated means for moving the car.

3. Claim 1 plus: passenger operated means for controlling the brakes after they have been released by said mechanism.

d. Claim 1 plus: passenger actuated. means for moving the car, and passenger operated means for controlling the brakes after they have been released by said mechanism.

5. Claim 1 plus: means whereby the passenger' may manually move the car in one direction and control its movement in the other direction.

6. Claim 1 plus: a second mechanism in the head automatically applying' the brakes imlependently of the first, and passenger operated means for easing oft said second mechanism at will.

7. In a manlift, the combination with a car including a head and a carriage traveling on the shaft guides, a weight substantially counterbalancing the car and the average passenger, and a cable leading from the weight; of brake shoes in the head coacting with said guides, a toggle connecting them, said cable being branched and attachedto the links of the toggle for breaking it upward and applying the shoes when the car has no passenger, and connections between the center of the toggle and the carriage whereby the weight ofthe passenger will straighten out the toggle and release the brakes..

8. Claim 7 plus: means whereby the underweight passenger may increase his effective weight.

9. Claim plus: means whereby the overweight passenger may sustain part of hisv weight direct from the head.

10. Claim 7 plus: an operating rope iixed in the shaft andL leading through the car.

11. Claim i' plus: a spring-actuated lever in the head for applying' the brakes independently of the toggle, and means on the carriage connected with said lever whereby the passenger may ease off this brake at will.

12. Claim 7 plus: means whereby the toggle breaks downward and applies said shoes when the cable parts.

13. In a manlift, the combination with a car including head and a carriage, upright straps in the shaft, jaws on the head traveling along said straps, and shoes on the head facing the respective jaws; of a toggle connecting said shoes, a counterweight, a cable leading therefrom and branched and attached to the links of the toggle, and a yoke whose arms support said carriage and whose center is connected with the intermediate pivot of the toggle.

14C. In a manlift, the combination with a car including a head and a carriage, upright straps in the shaft, and iii/:ed and movable elements on vthe head traveling astride the respective straps; of a toggle whereof each link is in two parts connected by a knuckle joint, the outer ends of the outer parts being pivoted vto said movable elements, a cable branched from said knuckle joints and leading to a counterweight, a spring tending to break said joints downward, and means for supporting the carriage from the central pivot of the toggle.

15. In a manlift, the combination with spaced upright straps in the shaft, jaws traveling along their inner faces, beams rigidly connecting the'jaws, and shoes traveling along the outer faces of the straps opposite the respective jaws and having wings provided with slots; of bolts through the slots, a toggle whose links are mounted at their outer ends on said bolts, a counterweight, a cable leading therefrom and branched and attached to the links between their ends, means for supporting a carriage from the inner ends of said links whereby the weight of a passenger straightens out said toggle, a brake lever, connections between it and said wings, and means whereby the passenger may control the action of this lever.

16. ln a manlift, the combination with spaced upright straps in the shaft, jaws traveling along their inner faces and having wings provided with slots, beams rigidly connecting the jaws, and shoes traveling along theV outer faces of theV straps and having wings provided with slots lapping ilo those mentioned; of bolts through the lapping slots, a toggle whose links are mounted at their outer ends on said bolts, a coun- Vterweight, a cable leading therefrom and carriage, and connections between it and theV lever whereby thepassenger may overcome the spring and ease off the brakes at will.

17. ln a manlift, the combination with spaced upright straps in the shaft, jaws traveling' along' their inner faces and rigidly connected with each other, brake shoes travel- Ving along therouter faces of the straps oppof sitethe jaws, toggle mechanism connecting the shoes, a counterweight, cable leading ktherefrom to the mechanism, means normally breaking the toggleV upward and applying the brakes, a carriage supported by said mechanism, and means whereby the weight of a passenger on the carriage straiglitens out such toggle and releasesV the Y brakes; of spring-actuated means .for applying thcrshoes when released by said'mechanisin, and meanscontrolled by the passenger for overcoming the spring and easing olf the brakes at will. Y Y f 18. ln a manlift, the combination witha head, brake shoes therein for application to guides in the shaft, a toggle connecting the shoes and releasing the brakes only-when its linksare alined, a Ycable leading Vfrom the togglaand a weight' attached to the cable and substantially counterbalancing the car and a passenger; of an ill-shaped yoke supaorted at its ano'leb f the intermediate Vaivot of the toggle and having a lateral truss bar, L supports depending from its divergent bars,

and a carriage'connected with said supports and sustained by the head through said yokeVV and toggle. Y Y

19. Claim 18 plus: passenger operated means for preventing the toggle from breaking upward. Y

20. VClaim (bar, a linger pivoted to the head, and vpassen- Y ger operated means for swinging the Vfinger over the block to prevent the toggle from breaking upward. Y Y

21. Claim 18 plus: members on'said head and trussfbar, a rocker movably mounted on the head and'connected with one of saidY members, a second brake mechanism connect-V ed with said rocker, and passenger actuated said members and prevent the togglefrom second brake mechanism at will.V

18 plus: 'a block on said trussY means for moving the rocker to,` first aline f 22.. Claim 18 plus: means operable by the passenger for forcing said truss bar toward the' head to straighten the toggle and release the brakes after such toggle has broken.

23. Claim 18 plus: a threaded tube pendant from the head, a screw therefor having a handle at its lower end, and an emergency spring put under tension by setting the screwY in the tube andexerting upward pressure on said truss bar, flor the purpose set forth. Y l

2li, Claim 18 plus: passenger operated means for preventing the toggle from 'break ing in one direction to apply the -brakes', and means for causing it to break in the other direction when the cable parts and automatically apply the brakes irrespective on the Vsetting' of said passenger operated means.

which the lower end of the linger may pass when the toggle is straight, a spring drawthe linger awa-y from the block, alink pivoted to the `finger, a pedal on said carriage, and connections between the pedal andlink whereby the passenger-mayrfpro-V ject the link andswing the linger over the block, as described; i l

27. ln a manlift, a headincluding'shoes raveling on guides in the shaft and pro- 'ided with ears, journaled in oppos, linkspivoted to and pendantV from f nir crank arms, and blocks pivoted bet een the ends ofthe linksadjacent each guide; combined with supports depend- "rom the bloei a platform carried by the supports and 11i-Ming lips also traveling on said guides, and means rising from said blocks for sustaining them from the head and permitting relative vertical movements of the head and platform.' s

2S, Claim 27 plus: straps fixed inthe shaft,- anti-friction devices thereforin said shoes and lips, brake mechanism in the head,

and vmeans on the platform vfor controlling VitsV application to Vsaid straps.

platform, a pipe depending from the head and slidably engaging said rod, pulleys car-Y* Aand leading through the manlift wherein it makes an'Sbend over-said pulleys.'V l

29. yClaim 27 plus: a rod risingfrom the site ars and each having a pair ofcrank Y Cri CFI

BO. 1n a manlitt, the combination with a car comprising a head and a carriage movably connected and traveling on guides in the shaft, brake mechanism in the head for application to said guides by the rise or descent or' the oariage with respect to the head, a cable leading from a weight substantially counterbalancing the car and a passenger, and connections between said cable and mechanism for releasing the brakes; of a second brake mechanism in the head, a spring lor applying it, and means for overcoming said spring including a flexible element leading down to the carriage whereby the passenger may put tension on said element and also sustain part of his weight from the head.

31. Claim 8O plus: an operating rope xed in the shaft and leading through the manlift, and pulleys carried by the head for giving the rope an S-bend within the carriage whereby the passenger may manipulate a selected stretch thereof to move the car and also correspondingly alter his weight on the carriage.

32. Claim 30 plus: bails on the head within reach orp an adult passenger standing on the platform whereby he may sustain part ot his weight from the head.

Claim 30 plus: extra weights at cer-` tain shaft landings which the passenger may place on the carriage to increase his effective weight.

34:. Claim 8O plus: emergency screw mechanism within the car within reach of an adult passenger whereby he may raise the carriage and himself with respect to the head.

85. rlhe combination with a casting having an opening with spaced stops at one end thereof, a bridge across said opening, a link leading into the other end thereof over said bridge and having spaced stops astride such bridge to limit the movements of the link, and a second link above the first; of a rocker within the opening pivoted to both links and having' a rib struck on an are around the lower pivot and continued in a narrower tongue in the same arc passing between said stops, the shoulder between the tongue and rib striking said stops when the lower link is in one position and sliding oliin them to move it to the other position, and the rocker then turning on its lower pivot to move the upper link, and mechanism for swinging the rocker.

3G. Claim 35 plus: instrumentalities connected with the respective links to be actuated separately, and means for manual actuation of the swinging mechanism to the desired extent.

37. Claim 35 plus: said swinging mecha nism comprising a iiexible element extending over and attached to the tongue and a pedal for applying tension to said element.

38. Claim 35 plus: a hanger depending from said casting, and a collar slidable thereon, said swinging mechanism including a tape extending over and attached to the tongue and leading downward to such collar, a second tape leading from the collar downward, and means for manually applying tension to such second tape.

39. 1n an elevator, the combination with a head traveling on the shaft guides, and supports depending therefrom; of a platform comprising an -beam connected with said supports, castings .at the ends thereof having' lips traveling on said guides, brackets bolted to the web of the beam and outstanding from its opposite sides,` j oists connecting the outer arms of the brackets, and a iiooring overlying the joists.

10. 1n a manliiit, the combination with a car including a head and a carriage traveling on the shaft guides, a weight substantially counterbalancing the car and the average passenger, and a cable leading from the weight; of brakes in the head coacting with said guides, mechanism connecting the brakes and cable, connections between said mechanism and carriage whereby the brakes are automatically released by the weight of the average passenger and automatically applied under all other conditions, and means whereby the underweight or overweight passenger may bring his effective weight to average. Y

41. 1n a manlift, the combination with a car including a head and a carriage traveling on the shaft guides, a weight substantially counterbalancing the car and the av erage passenger, and a cable leading from the weight; of brake shoes in the head coasting with said guides, link mechanism connecting the shoes, said cable being attached to the links, connections between the links and carriage whereby the brakes are automatically released by the weight of the average passenger and automatically applied when the carriage has no load or has an uncerweight or overweight passenger, and means whereby the first may increase and the second may decrease his effective weight to average, and release said brakes.

1n testimony whereof 1 hereto aiiiX my signature.

CHARLES H. MILLER. 

